Murramarang National Park stretches along the NSW south coast between Batemans Bay and Ulladulla, protecting beaches, headlands and coastal forest. NPWS lists five campgrounds in the park: Depot Beach, Pebbly Beach, Pretty Beach, North Head and Oaky Beach. This guide covers those official campgrounds and links to their current booking and condition pages.
The campgrounds#
Depot Beach#
Depot Beach is the flagship campground and the one most people mean when they say "we're going to Murramarang." It sits in a wide clearing of coastal bush with the beach a two-minute walk through the trees, and Durras Lake forming a calm lagoon at the south end of the campground.
Wildlife is commonly seen around the campground, but animals are wild: keep food secured, do not feed them and follow NPWS guidance.
Facilities: Hot showers, flush toilets, powered and unpowered sites suitable for tents and small camper trailers. BBQ facilities and picnic tables throughout. Sites are spacious and generally well-separated by bush.
Beach: A long, calm beach with a protected northern end that's good for swimming. The surf at the southern end gets bigger. The lagoon at Durras Lake is ideal for kayaking and the water is usually warm.
Access: Sealed 2WD access. NPWS lists sites for tents, camper trailers and caravans; check the booking page for the dimensions of the site you select.
Booking and current status: Book through the official Depot Beach page. The temporary 24 August–2 September maintenance closure no longer appears on the campground page or Murramarang alerts, and the live page was again offering availability searches on 3 September 2026. Check the live alert before travelling because conditions can change.
Best for: Families, couples, first-time national park campers. The combination of facilities, wildlife, beach, and lagoon makes it the most well-rounded campground in the park.
CampWatch note: Depot Beach is consistently one of the most in-demand campgrounds in NSW. If it's showing fully booked, set an alert — cancellations trickle through in the weeks before every school holiday period.
Pebbly Beach#
Pebbly Beach has 23 unpowered gravel sites. NPWS lists tents, camper trailers and vehicle-based camping, with toilets and showers; bring drinking water and treat or boil tank water before use.
The campground is known for wildlife around the beach and grassy areas. Observe animals from a distance and never feed them.
Facilities: Showers, toilets, unpowered gravel sites, BBQs and picnic tables. Tank water must be treated or boiled; bring drinking water.
Beach: Smaller and more sheltered than Depot Beach. Good swimming when conditions are calm. The rock platforms at the southern end are excellent for rock pooling with kids.
Access: Gravel 2WD access. NPWS lists tents, camper trailers and vehicle-based camping; confirm your selected site's dimensions in the booking system.
Booking and current status: Book through the official Pebbly Beach page. NPWS lists the campground and Pebbly Beach shacks as closed for maintenance from 10am on 14 September to noon on 19 September 2026. Check the live alert before travelling and verify the post-closure status rather than assuming reopening.
Best for: Wildlife lovers, couples, small families, anyone who has been to Depot Beach and wants something quieter with more character.
Pretty Beach#
Pretty Beach campground sits near Kioloa and has 55 powered and unpowered sites for tents, camper trailers and caravans.
The beach itself is exactly what the name suggests: a sheltered crescent of sand facing north, calm water, good for kids.
Facilities: Powered and unpowered sites, toilets, hot showers, laundry, BBQs and picnic tables. Tank water must be treated or boiled before drinking.
Access: 2WD accessible, sealed road. Suitable for caravans and motorhomes.
Booking: NSW Parks for the national park sites; NRMA separately for resort accommodation.
Best for: Families with young children who want the national park experience with powered sites and the option of upgrades nearby. Also a good backup option when Depot Beach and Pebbly Beach are fully booked.
North Head campground#
North Head is the quietest of the Murramarang campgrounds — tucked into bush behind the headland, with walking track access to Honeysuckle Beach. It suits walkers and those who want to escape the more popular campgrounds without leaving the park.
Facilities: Basic — toilets, BBQs, picnic tables. No showers. Bring drinking water.
Access: 2WD accessible. Smaller vehicle access — check NPWS for current caravan suitability.
Booking: NSW Parks online.
Best for: Walkers, couples, anyone wanting a quieter alternative to Depot Beach with direct coastal track access.
Oaky Beach campground#
Oaky Beach is the park's small tent-only option, with 15 sites. Sites 1–10 are about a 10-metre walk from the carpark; sites 11–15 are reserved for people with a booked Murramarang South Coast Walk package.
Facilities: Toilets, BBQs and picnic tables. No showers or powered sites. Bring drinking water.
Access: Short walk from the carpark. Caravans and camper trailers are not permitted.
Booking: NSW Parks online.
Best for: Tent campers and booked South Coast Walk itineraries.
Choosing your campground#
| Campground | Showers | Powered sites | Caravan-friendly | Wildlife highlight | Difficulty to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depot Beach | Hot | Yes | Yes; match the booked site | Coastal wildlife | Book online |
| Pebbly Beach | Yes | No | Check selected site | Coastal wildlife | Book online |
| Pretty Beach | Hot | Yes | Yes | Coastal wildlife | Book online |
| North Head | No | No | No; short walk | Coastal birds | Book online |
| Oaky Beach | No | No | No; tents only | Coastal bush | Book online |
When to visit#
Autumn (March–May): The south coast stays warm well into May — water temperatures around 19–20°C make swimming realistic, and the crowds thin sharply after Easter. This is the best window for Depot Beach and Pebbly Beach if you missed the summer and Easter rush.
Winter (June–August): Quieter and cooler. Whale watching season begins as humpbacks migrate north along the coast. Campfire permissions vary by site and current restrictions, so check the campground page and fire conditions rather than relying on the season.
Easter and school holidays: These are high-demand periods. Check official availability early and use a CampWatch alert if suitable dates are unavailable.
Summer: Popular but hot. Flies and heat can be a factor in January–February.
Getting there#
Murramarang is approximately 270 km south of Sydney — about 3.5 to 4 hours depending on traffic and which section of the park you're heading to.
The main route: Princes Highway south from Sydney to Batemans Bay, then south along the coast road through Bawley Point (for Depot Beach and Pebbly Beach) or continuing to Kioloa (for Pretty Beach). Check NPWS conditions before travelling — the coast road south of Bawley Point can be affected by flooding and occasional closures.
Booking#
Book the five official Murramarang campgrounds through their NPWS pages before arrival. Check Murramarang local alerts as well as the exact campground page before travelling.
Depot Beach and Pebbly Beach are among the most competed-for bookings in NSW. CampWatch checks supported availability on a recurring schedule and texts you when the monitored system reports a match. Verify your phone number, campground and dates, then set multiple alerts if you're flexible about where you stay.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best campground in Murramarang National Park?
It depends what you're after. Depot Beach has the best facilities (showers, flush toilets, large sites) and the famous lagoon with wallabies at dusk — it's the most popular overall. Pebbly Beach is smaller and more intimate, with kangaroos that actually come onto the sand. Pretty Beach suits families with powered sites and cabins nearby. North Head is a small, basic walk-in option, while Oaky Beach is a tent-only campground with some sites reserved for Murramarang South Coast Walk bookings.
Are there kangaroos at Murramarang National Park?
Yes — Murramarang is famous for it. Eastern grey kangaroos graze on Pebbly Beach itself at dawn and dusk, often while campers are having breakfast nearby. Wallabies are prolific throughout Depot Beach and Pretty Beach campgrounds, especially in the hour around sunset.
How far is Murramarang National Park from Sydney?
About 3.5 to 4 hours from Sydney depending on traffic — roughly 270 km south via the Princes Highway to Batemans Bay, then down the coast road. Depot Beach and Pebbly Beach are near Bawley Point; Pretty Beach is near Kioloa, about 20 minutes further south.
Do I need to book Murramarang campgrounds in advance?
Book the NPWS campgrounds online before arrival. Availability changes quickly for popular dates, so use each campground's official NPWS page for current inventory and conditions.
Can I bring my dog to Murramarang National Park?
No. Pets are not permitted in Murramarang National Park, including in campgrounds, on walking tracks, and in day-use areas. This is standard policy for NSW national parks.